The Abandoned Wife of a Military Family: Your disguise has been exposed again.

Chapter 24 Be good, don't force me to take action
Hearing the other party's increasingly audacious words, Yunwei did not get angry this time. Instead, she sighed and said with a worried expression, "You may not know, but in the past three years, all of my dowry has been spent on your Li family. Such a large family needs money for everything, not to mention that the old lady eats expensive tonics like Ganoderma lucidum and bird's nest at every meal."

Li Mingzhu also buys clothes and jewelry every month.

And your younger brother is a sickly man. In the past three years, if I hadn't bought him medicine to keep him alive, he would have died long ago. Not to mention, I paid for his marriage to Shen Shi.

No matter how generous the dowry, it can't plug the huge hole in your Li family's colossal coffers. Do you think I can still come up with a thousand taels of silver?

A look of surprise flashed across Li Yaoting's face.

Why is Mother eating so well?
However, when he thought of his mother's rosy complexion and plump, fleshy body, his doubts faded.

If she hadn't eaten well and lived well, how could my mother have been so rosy and healthy?

Before he went to the border, his mother was not as well-off as she is today.

Li Mingzhu is another one.

Her clothes and jewelry were different every day.

And his younger brother...

Although he has difficulty walking, he's at least alive and well. As for the Shen family...

Before he went to the border, he hadn't even entered the gate yet. Could it really be that the Yun family helped with all of this?
He only knew that Yun had done a lot for the Li family in the past three years, but his mother did not mention the specifics.

Yunwei saw his suspicion and sneered inwardly, but said calmly, "If you don't believe me, go ask your mother and the others. They eat my food, use my things, and enjoy everything I give them, but they've never treated me like family." One Chen Yuniang was enough to show them their true colors.

However, she wouldn't just let go of the money she spent on them; she would make them return it all.

Li Yaoting was already half convinced, and when he heard what she said, he believed her without a doubt, though a hint of unease flashed across his face.

"I remember everything you've done for the Li family, and I will treat you well in the future." He believed he was being sincere.

Yunwei remained silent.

What the other party said was worthless, and besides, he had only been using her all along.

Sure enough, the next moment, Li Yaoting coughed lightly and said, "I've only just returned and I'm short of money. I'll need your help to think of a solution for the wedding dress."

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Yun Wei's eyes; she was determined to get her to pay that thousand taels.

She said helplessly, "I'm not telling you all that so you'll remember it. I just want to tell you that I'm out of money. A thousand taels of silver is a lot for you, and it's the same for me."

Instead of wasting your time here, you'd be better off asking the old lady for help. At the very least, ask Li Mingzhu to give you a few pieces of jewelry; a thousand taels of silver should be enough. And if that doesn't work, there's still your thousand taels of reward money, isn't there?"

Li Yaoting hesitated.

He had no intention of using the thousand taels of silver as a reward to buy a wedding dress; otherwise, he wouldn't have wasted his breath arguing with her here.

He knew his mother still had some silver, but as for Mingzhu's jewelry...

Seeing his hesitation, Yunwei added fuel to the fire, "Chen Yuniang is your concubine as the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion. All she wants is a wedding dress. Your evasiveness will only hurt her feelings."

And think about it, the Chen family is no longer what it used to be, and it's about to rise again. They're just waiting for the imperial decree to be issued. Once the Chen family is back in its former glory, won't they give you a helping hand?
"Just consider it borrowing some personal funds from the Old Madam and Mingzhu. After Chen Yuniang enters the household, you can have her repay them. I see Chen Yuniang has already given the Old Madam and Mingzhu quite a few nice things, so she must have some money on her."

Li Yaoting was somewhat tempted by her words.

Yu Niang did indeed have some money, which came from gifts sent to the Chen family by prominent families in the capital, who saw that the Chen family was showing signs of resurgence.

Actually, Yu Niang is not short of money now, but since she wants to be his concubine, he naturally doesn't want her to spend her own money to buy a wedding dress. After all, the Chen family is kind and did not ask him for a bride price.

As for the Chen family's imminent resurgence, it is true. He had heard the rumors, and the imperial court was already drafting an edict, which should be issued in the next few days.

After Yu Niang enters the family, she will only bring benefits to the Li family. What is a mere thousand taels of silver?
With that thought in mind, he no longer hesitated, "I'll go find my mother and Mingzhu right now."

"I'm waiting for your good news." Yun Wei's smile deepened when she saw that he didn't mention the thousand taels of silver reward. Li Yaoting was shameless enough.

He would rather ask his mother and sister for the money than touch the reward.

He was reluctant to move, but soon he would have to.

Seeing the smile on her face, Li Yaoting actually found her quite gentle and graceful. If she could maintain this demeanor, he might not divorce her...

He gathered his thoughts and added, "Once I've raised a thousand taels of silver, I'll send it to you, but you must bring back the wedding dress from the Brocade Pavilion."

“The wedding dress is fine, but it can only be pink. After all, I am your legal wife, and Chen Yuniang entered the family as a concubine. If I make her wear bright red, where will I put my face?” Yunwei said, feigning displeasure.

"But Yu Niang wants to be in the limelight..."

“She’s immature, but don’t you understand? If we try to satisfy her selfish desires and she gets caught in a compromising situation, and we get impeached by the censor, it will be a huge loss. Besides, don’t you always say that Chen Yuniang is gentle and magnanimous? Explain it to Chen Yuniang, and I believe she will understand.” Yunwei sighed, looking like she was thinking of him.

Li Yaoting choked.

"Hurry up! She's getting married tomorrow. If you don't hurry, the wedding dress won't fit and can't be altered," Yunwei urged.

Upon hearing this, Li Yaoting didn't hesitate any longer and hurriedly left.

Yunwei's lips curled up.

A thousand taels of silver—why not take it? Plus, you get to see the siblings have a falling out.

Yunwei was in a good mood and was happy to see the chaotic scene at the Li family's house.

By this time, Tian'er had already returned from the accounting office with the silver.

Looking at the eighty taels of silver, Yunwei didn't even notice it.

However, she was still happy to make Li Yaoting bleed.

"Chen Yuniang will be coming in tomorrow night. Go and make the arrangements now," Yunwei instructed.

Sweetie understood immediately; it seemed the real show was about to begin.

She exclaimed excitedly, "I'll go right away!"

This is Li Mingzhu's courtyard at this time.

"What?" Li Mingzhu screamed, thinking she had misheard.

Li Yaoting frowned. "Why are you making such a fuss? I just asked you to bring out two pieces of jewelry. I'll make it up to you later."

"You want to buy Chen Yuniang a wedding dress, but you want to use it as my jewelry. What kind of brother are you?" Li Mingzhu's chest heaved with anger.

What does it mean to take out two pieces of jewelry?
He makes it sound so easy.

"Are you going to give it to me or not?" Li Yaoting asked impatiently.

If he weren't short of money, would he need to come to her?

She wouldn't even help with such a small thing; she's worse than a stranger.

Li Mingzhu's lips trembled with anger, "No."

Why should Chen Yuniang's wedding dress be considered her jewelry?

Li Yaoting sneered and pointed at her wrist, saying, "This bracelet on your wrist was a gift from Yu Niang. Take out two pieces of jewelry as a return gift for Yu Niang. Be good and don't force me to take action."

(End of this chapter)